February 25, Proverbs 22:1

Tara turned a page in the book and showed the picture of Papa Bear to her little sister, Tania. Their brother Jason looked up as Tara continued to read the story aloud. “’Who’s been eating my porridge?’ growled Papa Bear.”

Jason spoke up. “Papa Bear could have found out who ate it if he had lifted fingerprints from his spoon,” he said. “Everybody has a different set of prints. No two are alike, ever. Match the prints and you’ve got the criminal.” “Yeah, well, that’s nice, Jason. Now let us finish this story,” said Tara.

But Jason grabbed his magnifying glass and held it above Tara’s fingers. “See those ridges?” he asked. “They leave a mark on everything you touch. Police and investigators use special powders to dust for fingerprints. The powder sticks to the invisible ridge marks. The investigator carefully brushes away the dust between the ridges, and then they take a picture of it. The print can be lifted with a print-lifting tape, too.” Jason sat back. “I know how to do it,” he added, “and I better not catch you messing with any of my stuff or you’ll be sorry!”

“Jason! We don’t care about fingerprints right now. We just want to read the story,” said Tara.

“Well, you just remember-I’ve been practicing with the detective kit I got for my birthday,” grumbled Jason, “so you’d better keep your fingers off my things! Both of you!”

“Don’t be rude, Jason,” warned Mom, who had come into the room. “I think you need to be more concerned about the kind of ‘prints’ you’re leaving on the lives of others. I hope you’ll make sure they’re nice-not ugly. Like fingerprints, they identify us-not by ridges, of course, but by either the pleasant way we talk and act or by how rude we are.”

Thought: What kind of prints, or impressions, do you make on others? Are the things you do and say hurtful, or are they kind?

Prayer: Father in heaven, I hope the impressions I make are pleasing to You. I pray they give me a reputation of being helpful, friendly, and patient. And perhaps that way, others will want to spend time with me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.